Pusher mechanism for matrix assemblers



Dec. 13, 1949 B S FlNE 2,491,367

PUSHER MECHANISM FOR MATRIX ASSEMBLERS Filed Feb. lO, 1948 LW" Snventor f2 Bg@ SRM.

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(Ittorneg Patented Dec. 13, 1949 ICE ` PUSHER MECHANIS'MLFQR MATRIX ASSEMBIERS Byrd s.. Fine,

Waterbury; Genn.

Application February 10,' l94 8;SeralNo."7,384

3. Claims.

This invention relatesto the matrix assembling mechanism of a type composing and casting ma- .'ichnepand-fmore particularly to an improvement offthefmatrix pusher mechanism shown in my -prior PatentNo. 2,163390 of June 20, 1939.

A type composing, setting and casting Ina- 1., chineof'` the-standard typev has an elevator proivided Awithrspaced rails on which the matrices ff are assembled automatically. These matrices are v.rrelease'dl'selectively from a supply magazine'in' @accordance withthe `operation of a keyboardand @fall Vonto lav--trav'eling belt together with spacers, f"herein1termedmatrices, and' they are delivered -1 `seriallyfto the elevator `rails on which they are =:sta`cked. When the line of matrices on the rail is 1' full, then the Yelevator'is raised to ar point where 1': thei matrices are delivered to further mechanism arranged for casting a molten type metal into the f: characters on the matrices. The elevator loading mechanism =comprises a star wheel that'is roftated' 'in such-a way'as to thrust the matrices fserially along the elevator rails and behind spring epressed latches located at the near end ofthe rails. The star wheel may not succeed in' pushwing-the.lastzmatrix of Athe line into position so ,that the 'matrix may fall laterallyand hamper the :elevator kmovement orcause the line to be ejected :from .the rails. In order to insure proper v-assembly, Ihave provided a secondary pusher, in

accordance with my prior patent, whichthrustsif the last matrix into position between the` latches. My prior mechanism-'comprises a pivoted arm heldA outof *an operative: relation to the vlast matrix by a lever, which is positioned by engagefment with apart on they bottom-of Ythe elevator.

vWhen the elevator starts upwardly, that lever 'is ,.releasedV and axspring vmoves the. pusher forward to strike the last matrix; but the .pusher neces- :sarily remains in that position until after the e elevator has come back to its lowermost position. -It-.isnecessary at times that the elevator be low- .-.eredrmanually by the machine-attendant, if'he nds that there is an error inthe line of matrices ...and wants to correct the error. However,v the mpusher .remains ingits forward operative position-v .between the elevator rails after-ithe. matrices have been removed therefrom. Normally, the elevator .fzrnay return to its lowermost position without innterference on' the; part of the pusher becausethe :.latteripasses between the rails. If, however,' the matrices -arelefton the rails;` as is the case when .sthe.eelevator...isv lowered manually f toi correct ran eerrnnthen the. pusher willstrike the :undersidefof 'therrnatricesfand ej ect; them-'from the-elevatoror themechanismftamecome `zjammed.

2 `*Thef primary"Y object-of myy invention is torprovidelafsupplementalpusher mechanism that-will move ithe-'laste-matrix 'into position on thev elevatorfsliderrai-lsi'fbut whichl cannot interfere with ..5 the movement ofvthe elevator in either direction.

JAA" further objectfis' vfto provide such armechai' `nisrn v'vhichfV isfoperate'd intimed sequence with `Vlthe felevatorfmovement but independently there- `orar-iddw-liichfis withdrawnguickly from its-operative'-positionfassoone'aseitihas elected itsrpur- V'fpose.

Referringfltoffthe *drawings which illustrate one embodiment of myjinvention:

3vFig. 'i Itis-'a llfragrnentarylfside elevation,'--part ly "'15brokenawayothe elevator rails and the matrix pushing :mechanism in.y an linoperative position; Fig1f2 lis yafitop plan -view,' partlyv broken away, -f'of -the same;A and `I-Fig.f=3 is-^^a=fragmentarydetail showing the k- 'vpusheieinfits operative position.

i Inea constructionr of fthe* type described inf-my priorf=patent;the-matrices rIll are adapted to be mou-nte'dronifthe-spaced slide rails II of the'ele- '-vatorIfandftherel'held in1 position by two spring `^lpressed clamping' latches I2 vsuitably mounted-on "-the'lrails. -The-'matrices are normally pushed -pa'st the latchesandmoved along' the rails by a positively rotatedw'star-wheel I3J in accordance 1-with`-sta-ndad practice? but that'star wheelsome- -1timest fails' to push the `last matrixA I4 (Fig.'1)^in -f'fto position. iIgf accordingly, provide a'supplemental pusher I5 comprising the long curvedf arm lshownin'the drawing which is'pivotably mounted onlastationaryfpivot I6" on the machine frame. 'Ther curvedfl part fof-1 the pusher' is shaped to Abe `Imoved@overithetop of the star' wheel and 'strike ffthefltoplportionfofthat-'last matrix I4 and thrust 'finto place behindfthespring latches I2. i Il-1e'y pusherfIS--isfmoved after the line has'l been :'40 l'assembled :1a-nd 1 atabout the time `vthe A elevator r:startsfandpreferably `just before. v-This is' :best acacomplishedby-laicranlearm and linkage governed fby't'he'cam -lI'Gfthathcontrolsl-the elevator fmoveilment, ozl bylother suitable mechanism that oper- '45f1ates'i inf/attimo; relationrfwithlthef elevator. l' In the f constructionilillustrated;the rotatable cam `wheel I6 has a short cam or lug I8 onfitsside'thatlis "fshapd toastrikes-momentarilyl and lift'afcam lfllowerforfroller20' mounted onv the lowerl end of: arrockf arm@ 2 I. @The Icam vwheel is preferably .the -fearnfrthat causes 'the elevator movement 1 -as =desor`ibedf inlsaidf-patentyand the cam lug I8 islo- Joate'd--to beflifted-'i'jnst inadvancefof initiation f; :theoelevatorgmovementupwards. The rock armi 2 -xdf'on'f' theeendffof aLshaft-? 2''that\-1is sired position of adjustment.

the bottom portion 32 of the pusher I5, which is a lever of the rst class.

When the cam I8 of the cam wheel I6, which is traveling in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1 strikes and swings the roller 23 towards the left, it swings the arm 25 towards the right and pulls through the spring 28 to move the bar 30. This thrusts the upper crook end of the pusher I5 forward towards the left into contact with the top of the last matrix I4. The crook end is of such length relative to the swinging movement that the matrix I4 is necessarily pushed into position during normal operation of the machine.

The bar 30 has a long slot 34 therein so arranged that the bar may slide on and relative to a fixed post mounted on the machine frame. The post has a head projecting through the slot and thus locating that end of the bar. The post 29 on the bar 30 is connected to that fixed post 35 by a helical tension spring 36. This spring 36 is materially weaker than the other spring 28, and its purpose is to return the matrix pusher to an inoperative position as soon as the cam I8 has released the cam roller 20.

The cam I8 is short and acts only momentarily on the cam follower. Hence, the pusher I5 is moved kforward only momentarily, while the cam I8 is passing the roller 2li. As soon as the parts have moved out of contact, then the weak spring 36, which is secured between the xed post 35 and the post 29 on the bar 3U, serves to push that bar towards the left and thus rock the Apusher I 5 out of the path of the moving elevator,

which at that time is just starting its upward journey. A stud 31 on the machine frame serves to prevent the pusher I5 from moving back too far. Hence, in that construction the pusher is moved forward under a yielding resilient force (spring 28) and it is returned to an inoperative position by another spring 3B; but since the spring 28 is the stronger, the other spring cannot interfere with the forward movement of the pusher. Y

A further feature lies in the adjustment of movement of the bar 3G relative to the xed post 35. This comprises a slide plate that has a slot 4I within which is mounted a screw 4Z that is threaded into the bar 30. The head of the screw rides against the slide plate du and thus serves to clamp that slide plate in any de- This slide plate is arranged to project over the' slot 3ft to a required adjusted distance and thus limit the travel of the bar relative to the fixed post 35 on which the bar slides. This limits the forward motion ofthe bar 30 towards the right and thus serves asY anadjustment of the final position of the end of the pusher.

- The operation of the mechanism has been explained above. The cam wheel I6 revolves in a timed relation with the other parts of the machine when a line of matrices has been assemb led. That wheel serves to lift the elevator to present the line for a type casting operation.

The short cam I8 is preferably located on the side of the cam wheel, so as not to interfere with the elevator lifting mechanism. When the wheel I6 revolves in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the rounded nose of the short cam I8 strikes the roller 29 on the rock arm ZI and moves the upper rock arm 25 momentarily to the right. This applies tension to the strong spring 28, which overcomes the opposing tension oi the weak spring 36. This pulls the slide bar 30 to the right as far as is permitted by the position of adjustment of the slide plate 40 which strikes the stationary post 3-5 at the limiting position. Movement of the slide bar rocks the nose 45 of the pusher I5 into contact with the end matrix lll, and the distance of movement, as determined by the slide plate adjustment, is such that the matrix must move past the spring latches I2 on the elevator and so be locked in position in the line. As soon as the short cam I8 has passed the roller 2i) and tension on the spring 2B is released, the weak spring 3B serves to slide the bar 30 to the left and remove the pusher from the path of movement of the elevator. v

The pusher stays in an inoperative position during substantially the entire up and down movement of the elevator. Hence, if the machine attendant wants to lower the elevator by hand for any reason, he may do this without the pusher I5 being caught beneath the elevator as would be the case if the pusher were held in a forward operative position according to my prior construction. It is to be noted that the pusher is independent of the elevator although moved in timed relation therewith, since it is not moved by the elevator or any part connected to it. The

pusher moves forward momentarily to accomplish its function and then quickly retreats, to lie idle until again needed. The elevator may be moved down and up manually without interference, and the pusher acts only when forced to do so by its cam I8. Also, since the pusher preferably acts before the elevator starts, the pusher can act positively to make sure that the last matrix is secured on the elevator before the latter starts to move.

Various other advantages are inherent in the construction as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. Also, it will be understood that many modifications may be made in the construction without departing from the s-cope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a type composing and casting machine having a vertically movable elevator on which a line of matrices is assembled, a supplemental pusher mechanism for pushing the last matrix into position comprising a pivoted pusher movable to Contact with the last matrix, a cam independent of the elevator but moved in timed relation with the elevator movement, a cam follower moved by the cam at about the start of the elevator movement, a resilient member -connecting the follower with the pusher to thrust the latter forward under the impulse of the cam and Yresilient means independent of the elevator movement for returning the pusher te an inoperative position out of the path of downward movement of the elevator.

2. In a type composing and casting machine having a movable elevator on which a line of matrices is assembled, a pusher mechanism for thrusting the last matrix of the line into position comprising a pivoted pusher lever movable to )contact with the last matrix, a short cam inde- .pedent of the elevator which is moved in timed relation with the elevator movement, a pivoted cam follower moved by the cam at about the start of the elevator movement, means including a. spring connecting the follower with the pusher to move it yieldingly into contact with the last matrix and thrust it into position, and a. second spring weaker than the other which is connected to the pusher and yields during the matrix pushing operation but withdraws the pusher to an inoperative position as soon as the cam has passed the follower.

3. A device as covered by claim 2 comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected to the pusher which is resiliently connected to the follower by the stronger spring, axed member on the machine frame which is mounted in the bar slot for movement of the bar longitudinally thereon, the

REFERENCES CITED i The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,231,906 Kennedy July 3, 1917 2,399,252 Powers Apr. 30, 1946 

